A new beginning for us in 2011
But most of the players remain the same By the time this magazine lands in your hands, the smell of paint in our new offices will be gone. For now, as I type this out, it is still very much …
Category: Opinion
AJAC awards benefit both consumers and dealers
Published test data are a treasure of useful information As I write this note, I’ve just returned from spending the better part of a week at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) annual TestFest in Niagara on the Lake, …
Is the future of the automobile really electric?
Not everybody is a believer After more than a century of domination by the internal combustion engine, the age of the electric automobile is now upon us. Or so politicians and the mass media would have us believe. Increasingly stringent …
Who are you really competing against?
The local independent may go away, but you won’t necessarily benefit. It is often suggested that the increased technological complexity of modern vehicles will drive the service business back to the dealer, away from an aftermarket that can’t keep up …
Double dip?
Is Canada’s future V- or W-shaped? To many, the term “double-dip” brings to mind nothing more sinister than a breach of snacking etiquette from a long-lost episode of Seinfeld. For others it’s a tasty treat from Tim Horton’s. Recently, however, …
Words of wisdom
From somebody who really knows This summer, I had the privilege of sitting down with Marcus Breitschwedt, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, for an in-depth chat about that company’s phenomenal success in recent years, and the reasons behind it. …
Regionalism – a strength and a weakness
It’s time to deconstruct some of the walls that constrain us Canada is a vast country – the world’s second largest by land mass. Though sparsely populated, it spans six time zones and is made up of regions that are …
CADEX is cancelled
As you likely know by now, I decided to cancel the CADEX event. As a final point of closure, I thought I would use this column to share some of the feedback I’ve received since making that decision. For those …
Which side is right?
CADA takes a stand against the import of RHD vehicles The issue of right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles on Canada’s roads is one that has gained some attention in recent months. RHD refers to vehicles in which the driver sits on the …
Sharing information in a time of change
A national conference with a direct dealer focus Since CADA’s National Conference in Vancouver a few years ago, we at Canadian auto dealer get asked on a regular basis whether we know the timing of the next event. Our answer …
A chance to hear from a true expert
Maryann Keller will offer her deep insights into the used car market when she appears at CADEX in September Maryann Keller, one of North America’s most respected experts on the automotive industry, will be joining us at our CADEX event …
This is a very slippery slope
And a dangerous precedent for dealers I just heard that Ford, Best Buy Canada and Future Shop are teaming up to help consumers link their Bluetooth phones and other devices with Ford’s SYNC system. Wow! I’m a little shocked by …
